The War against Netanyahu

Following Likud’s victory in the 1996 elections, the Left released its war against Netanyahu. He was a formidable political rival—a native-born Israeli and American-educated, radiating youth, charisma, confidence, and sporting a highly commendable military record in the IDF. Netanyahu’s biography and attributes were ostensibly a perfect fit for the ideological and political Left, but Bibi, considering his family and his views, belonged to the nationalist camp on the Right. Stunned by Netanyahu’s hairbreadth victory over Labor Party candidate Shimon Peres, the Left launched its campaign of de-legitimization and defamation. Tens of Hebrew University professors signed a letter in 1997 to...